Ezra  stile s



anni s'riLii's, or NEwroaK, N. r.

Lettere Patent No. 76,843, dated April 14, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAR-BRAKES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY OONERN:

Be it known that I, EZRA STILES, ofthc city and county of New York, in the lState of New York, have l invented certain new and useful Improvements in RailroarLOars; and l do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof. v i

My invention relates to the construction, arrangement, and means of operating a certa-in brakeapparatus. My brake niakcs a friction directly on the track, instead vet' on the wheel. Brakes possessing this general characteristic have been before proposed. My invention makes this styleof brake more practicable and'reliable than heretofore, and also contributes to the safety of the car and its contents in case of the vfracture or derangeniente` a wheel or axle.

I prefer to designate my invention :is a concentric cam-brake. g

I will lirst proceed to describe what I consider the best means for carrying out my invention, and will afterwards designate the points which Iy believe to be new. The accompanying drawings form apart of this specification. v

Figure 1 is a side view of'. a truck.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section onthe line of the centre of the track, and

Figure 4 is across-'section on the line S S in iig. 3, but omitting to section the wheels.

Similar letters of reference indicato like parts in all the figures.

A is the framework of a truck; B B are the wheels, 'b b the axles, and C the housings, which may contain boxes, springs, &c., of any approvedl construction. The car (not represented) may be mounted on two of these trucks in any approved manner'. D is a stout housing, which carries the brake-shoe E, andthe means of of '1'- ating it. There are braces, al d, which connect the lower part of the housing D to the framework A, and stillen it against the severe strain to which it is subjected. The shoe E is connected by stout vertical slides e e to supporting-springs, which are within the housing D. A cross-piece, c', conncctsthe upright slides e, and is adapted to receive'a powerful downward pressure from the eccentric, H, which turns on the pivot 7i, and is adapted to be operated by the long arm or -lever H. The housing l) and its connections may be adjusted at different heights by ordinary rneans not represented, se as to ordinarily support the shoe E at a height of from one to two inches above the vrail M. Under ordinary circumstances, the shoeE is thus carried, and is 'of 1ro-effect.`

When it is desired. to stop the car, the lever H is operated by the brake-chain I, and the eccentric, H, by turning 'on the eccentrically-mounted axle t, depresses the cross-piece c', and thus deprcsses the shoe E. Se soon as the latter commences to press with-any force upon the rail, itinduces o. friction, which tends to stop the train. So soon as the chain I is slackened, the eccentric, H, returns to its original position, and the shoe E is raised outA of contact with lthe railby the force of the sp1-ing G.

The shoe E is broader than the tread ofth'e wheels, and is provided with a stout flange at its inner edge. .Ea-ch shoe is so mountedl that c. portion'o` its width lis outside of the line'of thc wheels, and another portion is inside of the line of the wheels. -t follows, from this arrangement, that the shoe strikes on the rail, and supports the truck quite eiiciently in-case anl accident to a wheel or axle has let theftruck suiiciently down, either with or without disturbing its positionl on the track. As soon its the truck is thrown two inches te one side orto the other of its proper position, the shoe-flange, as represented, will be sure to strike, and to be supported on the rail.

The harige upon the inner edge of'the shoe E is marked E', and contributes efficiently to prevent the truck from becoming further displaced to onel side or the other after the shoe E has come to a bearing ,upon the rail.

lt will be understood, in regard to this featurc'of tho utility ci' my invention, that the choc E, While supporting the truck, will exercise a great force by friction to arrest @thc motion of the train. I consider this a desirable quality. It is certainto so greatly retard he train as to attract the attention of the engincer,'and i .canse the stoppage of the train before the weight has been long supported in this manner.

Huvng thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire toseeure by Letters Patent, is

as follows: i

I claim the flanged bearingfblock or brake-Block E E', when nude to extend beyond the lines of the wheels; both outside and inside, a's represented, and when combined witl und operated by the `com H, lever H", and

i spring Gr and chain I, all arranged substantially ns and for the pgrposes h'eljen s et forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sett my neme'npresence ofltwo su'bseribing Witnesses.4

` l EZRA STILES.- Witnesses: .l n f 4 HENRY STANTON,

F. W. SALMoNson. 

